Breaking down gender stereotypes

The Feminist Club at my school talks a lot about gender stereotypes and the negative impacts on all genders; therefore, we love this video from TED. It is called “A Call to Men” and the speaker is Tony Porter (bio below). If you choose to show this video with your students, we would love to hear some feedback about how it was received.

Before viewing: What are the expectations or characteristics of males? What are the expectations or characteristics of females?

After viewing: What is your version of the male box? What is your version of the female box?

In what circumstances do you feel most stuck in the male/female box?

If you could change one aspect about the male box/female box, what would it be?

From TED: Why you should listen

Tony Porter is an author, educator and activist working to advance social justice issues. As the co-founder of A CALL TO MEN, Tony is internationally recognized for his efforts to prevent violence against women while promoting a healthy, respectful manhood. Tony’s 2010 TED Talk has been named by GQ Magazine as one of the “Top 10 TED Talks Every Man Should See.”

Tony is an adviser to the National Football League, National Basketball Association, National Hockey League and Major League Baseball, providing policy consultation, working extensively with player engagement, and facilitating violence prevention and healthy manhood training.

He is an international lecturer for the U.S. State Department, having extensive global experience to include Brazil, India and Africa, and has been a guest presenter to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. Tony has worked with the United States Military Academy at West Point and the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis.

He is sought after for his in-depth understanding of the collective socialization of men, and has served as a script consultant for the Emmy Award-winning television series “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.”

Tony is the author of Breaking Out of the Man Box and the visionary for NFL Dads: Dedicated to Daughters.